Why it matters: Vic Mensa’s Books Before Bars program aims to provide prisoners with books that can transform their lives and is funded through his cannabis line 93 Boyz. This initiative is part of his efforts to address prison reform and equity in the cannabis space.
What they are saying: Mensa explained that he started Books Before Bars almost a decade ago when he gave a copy of Huey P. Newton’s autobiography Revolutionary Suicide to an incarcerated friend. Mensa believes that the right book at the right time can be a seed that, if watered and nurtured, can grow an internal freedom even within the walls of a modern-day plantation.
The big picture: Thousands of prisoners are currently locked up on federal and state cannabis-related charges, and some cannabis brands and leaders behind them aim to change that. For instance, Mensa’s 93 Boyz is Chicago’s first Black-owned cannabis brand, and he co-founded it with rapper Towkio about a year ago.
What to watch: Mensa’s Books Before Bars program is an inventive approach to addressing prison reform and building equity in the cannabis space. This program aims to promote reading and education that can transform prisoners’ lives and provide individuals with a means to internal freedom.
Takeaway: The Books Before Bars program exemplifies the transformative power of books and the role that cannabis-related programs can play in addressing social justice issues. The program highlights Mensa’s social awareness and advocacy efforts aimed at promoting prison reform and equity in the cannabis space.
